Page 16 of Vows of Ruin

I’ll protect you. I don’t care what it costs me.

I close the door behind me with a soft click making my way down the hall, bare feet silent against the floor. The house is dark and still, but I know I’m not the only one awake.

I open Margot’s door to find exactly what I expected, chaos in still life.

Margot, Elais, and Riot are sprawled naked across the bed like a crime scene. No blankets. No shame. Just limbs and skin and glitter from last night’s party still clinging to Margot’s cheeks. I shake my head, a silent laugh catching in my throat.

Walking to Elias’s side, I kneel and gently tap his jaw. “Elias,” I whisper.

He stirs, blinking faintly. “Mmmph…what—”

I clap my hand over his mouth. “Come with me. Quietly. Don’t wake them.”

He nods, mouth still covered. I release him and stand, watching as he carefully removes himself and grabs a nearby pair of sweatpants.

As soon as we’re in the hallway, he opens his mouth to speak, but I raise a finger to my lips “Shh.”

That’s when I hear it, Max’s voice, low and firm through the closed bedroom door.

“Hugo, bleib.” Stay.

I freeze. No footsteps. No creaking floorboards. Just silence again.

I wait a beat. Nothing. I glance at Elias and nod. Whatever Hugo heard, it didn’t sound the alarm. He’s just waiting, probably wondering why the hell I’m creeping around at dawn. I motion for Elias to follow me again, and we move quietly down the hall toward the war room. I know we’re already playing someone else’s game, and I refuse to play fair.

“You know,” Elias mutters, stifling a yawn as he slumps into one of the war room chairs, “The last time you woke me up this early, you had just been shot, and we started planning total annihilation.”

I lean against the edge of the table. Arms crossed. “Yeah… well. This might be even crazier.”

Before he can ask what I mean, the door creaks open and Wrecker walks in holding a coffee mug that looks comically small in his massive hand.

Elias squints at him. “What the hell are you doing up?”

Wrecker just grips the mug tighter like it might shield him from whatever is happening. “I swear this fucking house is haunted. I couldn’t sleep. Kept hearing noises, footsteps. Whispering.” He shudders, then adds flatly. “Also, Elias, I think you sleep with your eyes open.”

Elias flips him off, and I can’t help the small giggle that slips out. God, I needed this.

“Okay,” I say, straightening. “I need to know if you can get your hands on trackers.”

Elias blinks. “Trackers? I mean… yeah. I’ve got some. Why?”

“Not the usual kind,” I clarify. “I’m talking about an implanted one. Subdermal. For the family.”

Wreckers chokes on his coffee. “Umm. Wow. This is not how I planned to start my morning.”

Elias gives me a long, slow look like I’ve officially cracked. “Jesus, Wrenley. That’s… a big ask. You sure you want to go that route?”

“Can you get them?”

He leans back, sighing. “Couple hours tops. But good luck convincing everyone to actually let me cut them open and insert metal under their skin.”

“Leave that part to me.” I flash a sharp smile. “You just make sure it’s clean and trackable.”

I turn to Wrecker. “I need a car ready. You’re taking me to Doc.”

He blinks. “Or… I can go get her. Whatever you need.”

“No.” I fix him with a look. “You’re taking me. Or I go alone.”